WK04 Reflection Blog Post

 10/07/2021

Entrepreneur's Journal
Entry #4 (Week 3 BUS 110)
Elizabeth Simons-Adams

Reflect upon and describe your individual learning experiences from this week. Include any course concepts that resonated with you.

If you need some ideas, respond to the following questions:
What did you learn from the W04 Study: How Will You Measure Your Life readings and videos?
What are you looking forward to learning and experiencing?

I think the thing that most resonated with me this week is the many ways you can look at your life and determine what you are the best at - there isn't just one way.

At the stage of life I'm in now where I have 13 years of Product Management experience under my belt - all without a degree by the way - I've come to realize that I wouldn't be where I'm at with all of my previous job/career experiences. I've done everything from customer service to insurance to fraud investigations. Every single job has given me something useful with what I do now regardless of what product line I'm working on.

However, it hasn't been until about a year ago that I have had a direct report. Someone that looks up to me for advice and training - and that has turned my entire perception on it's head. I always had someone to escalate issues to and there was a sense of security with that as I never truly had to be accountable for that issue. But now, I am accountable and responsible to figure out problems and escalate them. My attitude and perception rubs off on my direct report and I can tell when I've not been the best at my job because he will start mirroring me.

The quote from 'How Will You Measure Your Life':
'Management is the most noble of professions if it is practiced well.' - has had a profound impact on me. I have also realized that my attitude rubs off on others when they aren't my direct report as well. The term 'management' means many different things to me as it represents how I 'manage' my life and how I can impact others lives by living it well and with integrity. This goes without saying how my personal life with my husband and kids see me and my attitude as well.

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